Music & Culture

Anjela Duval

Anjela Duval was born on her parent’s farm in Le Vieux-Marché in 1905; she was one of three children but both her brother and sister died during childhood, which left Anjela as the only child on the farm to help her parents. Her father died in 1941, and from then on Anjela and her mother [...]

in Memory of Francois Morvan

Born 4th December 1923. Died Friday 18th May 2012 at his farm in Botcol, Saint-Nicodeme.
One of the four Freres Morvan, Francois achieved fame by singing with two of his brothers, Yvon and Henri, at events throughout Brittany for a period spanning over six decades. He stopped singing at age 65.

Les Fileuses de Laine – Ridee 8 Temps

Listen to Louis Lallour and Bernard Lagadec, singing ‘Les Fileuses de Laine’[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Refrain:
Par chez moi vint à passer, neuf fileuses de laine
Par chez moi vint à passer, neuf fileuses de laine
Repeat

Le dernier qui passera, filera, filera,
Le dernier qui passera, filera la laine
Repeat
Par chez moi vint à passer, huit fileuses de [...]

Gilgodenn

Listen to Louis Lallour and Bernard Lagadec, singing ‘Gilgodenn’ [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Posupl eo hiziv an deiz
‘Gollfen ma c’harantez
Posupl eo hiziv an deiz
‘Gollfen ma c’harantez
Gilgodenn, gilgodenn
Me ‘glasko ken e kavin
Ur plac’h yaouank da blijet din
Gant ur botoù-koad ‘veldin
“A fickle girl, a fickle girl.
I will try until I find
A young girl that suits [...]

the Freres Morvan

The first public performance of the Freres Morvan took place in St Servais in 1958. Since then, they have sung at thousands of musical events ranging from small family gatherings to the huge annual rock festival, les Vieilles Charrues, at Carhaix, and are recognised as having played a major role in helping to preserve the [...]

Breton – the Language

Alan Stivell
The western part of Brittany has its own language – Breton. It is a Celtic language quite closely related to Welsh and Cornish, and was probably brought over to Brittany from the British Isles around 500AD by people who re-settled the region after the collapse of the Roman empire.
The Heyday of Breton
The Breton language [...]

A Breton Wedding

Marie de Coajou describes her memories of a wedding that took place in the countryside in Central Brittany in 1937.
I remember the wedding of Jean-Marie and Marianne – I was one of the maids-of-honour. In those days the young people decided that they wanted to marry each other, and then their families fixed on a [...]

Music & Dance in Brittany

Marcel Guilloux is a veteran of the Breton music scene. A highly-skilled singer in the Kan ha Diskan style, and keen Breton dancer, he has helped pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
Various factors have combined to give Brittany a unique culture of music and dance: the Breton musical tradition is Celtic in origin, [...]

TRI MARTOLOD

Tri Martolod is a traditional Breton song, composed to be sung to a Gavotte de Lannilis. Lannilis is a town in the north-west tip of Brittany, close to the sea, which is reflected in the words of the song.

BRETON WORDS:
Tri martolod yaouank, la la la, la la la la
Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ [...]

Breton Dances

LOUIS LALLOUR first sang in public in 1941 during the potato harvest in Plourac'h. Since then he has sung at countless fest noz, fest deiz and other gatherings, and continues to keep alive the ancient Breton singing tradition.
Gavotte
The Gavotte is the most popular Breton dance, and the one you will encounter most often.
The basic rhythm [...]